The end of the world is approaching, I'm handing myself over to the country.

At the end of the month, the light curtain in the safe zone disappeared during the assessment.

How can one survive the attack from Ainz Ooal Gown?

Lin Mo returned to the familiar general store and hung up a sign saying it was closed.

With a "click," the door was locked from the inside.

Completely isolated from the noise of the outside world.

The whole world seemed to have fallen silent.

He walked behind the counter, sat down, and sank into the chair without saying a word.

The sparrow on my shoulder finally caught its breath a little. It cautiously raised its head and tentatively explored the area.

Are you... alright?

Lin Mo did not answer.

He just sat quietly, his mind blank.

The only sound in the entire space was his steady breathing.

That calmness, however, made the sparrow feel a strange sense of unease.

It could sense how much of an impact the encounter had had on Lin Mo.

The end-of-month assessment, which I thought I was sure to pass, suddenly took an unexpected turn.

Moreover, the enemy is such a powerful being.

A long time passed.

Lin Mo finally spoke.

"system."

【I'm here!】

The sparrow jolted and immediately straightened its body.

"According to the previous plan, how much of a chance do I have against the Bone King in the end-of-month assessment?"

His voice was flat, devoid of any emotion.

Sparrow blurted it out almost without thinking.

Zero! Absolutely no chance of winning!

[The opponent is an S-rank being, a king-level creature who has mastered the power of rules; beneath those rules, all are but ants.]

You are no match for him.

The system's response was already quite tactful.

Despite having just completed the stat allocation, Lin Mo's combat power has surged to over 2.

But with this level of skill, it's simply not enough to compete with the other side.

Lin Mo let out a long sigh, leaned back in his chair, and looked up at the ceiling.

"I just want to develop my character stealthily, why is it so difficult?"

This self-talk carried a hint of weariness and helplessness that was barely perceptible.

Seeing his expression, Sparrow swallowed back the words of advice that were on the tip of her tongue.

It flapped its wings and landed on the counter, tilting its head.

【but......】

The sparrow paused for a moment.

It's not a certainty of death.

"Oh?"

Lin Mo sat up straight instantly, and a glimmer of light rekindled in his once-dormant black eyes.

When Sparrow saw Lin Mo looking at it, it puffed out its chest and cleared its throat.

[Hmph, no matter what rules he has mastered, or how strong he is, if he wants to enter this place, he must abide by the rules here!]

Lin Mo held his breath slightly.

End-of-month performance reviews are never meant to send you to your death.

[At that time, the light barrier of the safe zone will disappear, but the rules of the safe zone itself will not disappear.]

At that time, the power of any creature that enters this area, regardless of who it is, will be forcibly compressed!

The sound of a sparrow carries an absolute confidence in the rules.

[If anyone dares to step into the territory of our general store, their strength will be effectively reduced by a fraction of their original value.]

At that time, any target who dares to trespass, regardless of who they are, will not exceed the level of a leader!

Lin Mo's heart skipped a beat.

"What is the maximum combat strength of a leader-level being?"

[Leader-level, overall combat strength, not exceeding 50,000.]

fifty thousand.

Lin Mo sat up straight, pondering in his mind.

His current overall combat strength is 28,523.

Although there is still a gap of nearly 100%, but...

This has transformed from an astronomical figure into a number that can be calculated and caught up with.

It's no longer that unattainable 320,000.

"Are you sure it won't exceed 50,000...?"

Lin Mo repeated softly, his arms crossed over his chest, his fingertips unconsciously tapping lightly on his arms.

"If that's the case, then it's still a close call."

"I would never sit and wait to die!"

"No matter the outcome, I'm going to give it a try!"

As long as there's a chance to fight, it's not a dead end.

However, the slight relaxation that had just appeared on his face was completely shattered by Sparrow's next words.

Yes, they're evenly matched...

Sparrow's words carried a hint of helplessness: "Because what's being compressed is only the combat power stat."

Even if the power of the rules that the opponent has already mastered is weakened, rules are still rules.

That power remains an insurmountable barrier for you now.

Rules are a realm you can't even comprehend right now.

Under the rules, everyone is but an ant.

"Under the rules, everyone is an ant."

Lin Mo repeated the sentence, his stiff body slowly leaning back in his chair.

He remained silent for a long time, so long that even the sparrows thought he had given up.

"Are the rules... really that strong?"

Lin Mo's voice was somewhat hoarse, carrying a final, unwilling plea for confirmation.

The sparrow nodded, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

This world is woven from countless rules, from the grand movements of the sun, moon, and stars to the growth of a single blade of grass.

Mastering the rules is equivalent to holding the truth of the world in your hands.

It paused, as if looking for a more intuitive example.

Just now, even before Ainz Ooal Gown arrived in this area, a mere thought from him was enough to render you completely immobile.

This is a complete domination at the rule level.

Lin Mo's fingertips traced a faint mark on the armrest.

"Then... how did I escape just now?"

He had wanted to ask this question before.

Sparrow paused for a moment, then made no attempt to hide anything.

If we're talking about who cares most about Lin Mo's life or death, it's naturally him.

Within the secure zone, I can legitimately invoke certain rule permissions.

However, this kind of call is extremely resource-intensive.

Sparrow's answer sounded true, and it was clear that the confrontation just now was by no means easy for him.

I understand what you're thinking.

[Even during the end-of-month assessment, I can help you, under reasonable circumstances, use the rules of the safe zone to help you pass the assessment.]

【but!】

The sparrow emphasized its words.

The cost of invoking the rules far exceeds your imagination.

Even if I do everything in my power to help you, at most I can only create some trouble for the other party; I can't actually stop them.

Lin Mo listened quietly without interrupting.

Until Sparrow finished speaking, he suddenly raised his head, and something was being ignited in his deep black eyes.

"Can you still help me?"

"Is there really such a good thing?"

The sparrow had no idea what Lin Mo was thinking; it just felt that Lin Mo's reaction was a bit strange.

But it still nodded obediently.

【Can. 】

I can grant you temporary access to and use of the rules for a very short period of time.

But if you ask me to help you this once, it will cost one million Source Crystals.

The words fell.

The entire grocery store fell into a deathly silence.

Lin Mo remained motionless, like a statue.

Just when Sparrow thought he was stunned by the news.

"Oh."

A soft laugh escaped from Lin Mo's throat.

He smiled.

That wasn't a bitter smile, nor was it self-deprecation.

It was a heartfelt, joyful laugh that came after a long period of suppressed frustration had been swept away.

"That's enough!"

He suddenly sat up straight, and his entire aura changed.

The previous dejection and helplessness vanished, replaced by an aggressive calculation.